Gear speeder



July 6, 1937. J. c. DRADER El AL GEAR SPEEDER Filed April 26, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS.

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July 6, 1937- J. c. DRADER ET AL 3 GEAR SPEEDER Filed April 26, 1935 4 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTORS. E E

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J ly 6, 1937- J. c. DRADER El AL GEAR SPEEDER Filed April 26, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 5% m mfm PM; i

July 6, 1937. J. c. DRADER El AL GEAR SPEEDER Filed April 26. 1935 4 SheetsSh'eet 4 ATTORNEYS.

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Patented July 6, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,085,850 GEAR SPEEDER Application April 26, 1935, Serial No. 18,361

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to machinery for running together cooperating parts such as gears,

and more particularly to such machines as are constructed to speed gears under simulated actual working conditions to check the sound characteristics of the gears.

In certain gear applications, although the directions of rotation of the gears remain the same, the driving relation between the gears is reversed. For example, in connection with automobile transmission gears, during motoring operation the gears directly associated with the crank shaft drive the gears directly associated with the drive shaft. During coasting or braking conditions the reverse is true, and the gears directly associated with the drive shaft drive the gears directly associated with the crank shaft. Under both conditions, however, the directions of rotations of the gears remain the same. In such gear applications, as well as others, it is desirable to run cooperating gears together over a period to insure that they will operate noiselessly.

The present invention provides a construction of gear speeding machine, particularly adapted to duplicate operating conditions of the above mentioned type, and which affords a means of checking the sound characteristics of such gears. In accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, pairs of cooperating gears are mounted in engaging relation to each other. Both gears of such pairs are selectively connectable to a source of power, so that either may be made the driving member. The just mentioned connections are such that, while either gear is acting as the driven member, it is driven in the same direction as when acting as the driving member. In the illustrated embodiment a common drive shaft is employed, which may be reversed to reverse the driving relation of the gears. In accordance with the present invention also, suitable braking mechanism is provided to impose a load on the driven gear, and as illustrated this braking mechanism is actuable simultaneously with the shaft reversing mechamsm.

The principal object of the present invention,

accordingly, is to provide a speeding machine for gears in which the gear rotations are always in the same direction, but in which the driving relations between the gears may be selectively reversed.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a machine of the above type in which a common source of power may be selectively connected to either gear of each pair.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a machine for speeding gears in which both gears of a pair are suitably loaded while being driven.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a machine of the above character in which an electric motor is employed as a common source of power for pairs of gears and in which the direction of rotation of the electric motor is reversed to change the driving relation between the gears.

Other objects and advantages of the present construction appear more fully in the following description and in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a view in side elevationflwith parts broken away, of a gear machine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation, partly in section, of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view, partly in section, of the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a view in section taken on the line 9-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig.7 is a view in section taken on the line 'I'I of Fig. 6; and,

Fig. 8 is a view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, gears I and 3, which represent a pair of gears to be speeded, are supported on shafts 2 and 4 between head and tail stocks 5 and I, and 9 and I I, respectively. Stocks 5 and I are supported on a bed plate I3. Stocks 9 and I I are supported on a bed plate I5 which is movable with respect to bed plate I3.

Head stocks 5 and 9, which may be of conventional construction, each embodies ,pulleys I and I9 respectively, which are driven through belts 2| and 23 in response to rotation of shaft 25, in the manner hereinafter described.

Referring in more detail to the arrangement of the above described elements, bed plate I3, which rests upon a member 21 associated with frame 29, is formed with two depressed rail guides 3| and 33 and a depressed portion 35. Bed plate I5 is formed with rail sections 31 and 39, respectively, which enter guides 3| and 33. Wheel 4|, fixed in position with respect to bed plate I3 by shank 43, terminates in screw section 45 which may be threaded into bed plate I5 in any conventional manner. As will be understood, rotation of wheel 4| adjusts bed plate I 5 with respect to bed plate I3, in order to accommodate gears of mounted in recesses 59 and H formed in pordifferent diameters. Bolts 41 and 49 pass through bed plates I5 and are threaded into nuts (not shown) which are slidably received in sections 5| and 53 of bed plate I3, and serve to ends of rail 54. Bolts 50 and 52 serve to provide a micrometer adjustment of the position of sections 55 and 51. If either screw 50 or 52 is turned back so that the head thereof is separated from its cooperating shoulders 54 'or 55, the other bolt may be threaded further into section 55, and, rail54 being fixed in position with respect to section 51, section 55 is caused to move along the inclined surface of section 51. Sections 55 and 51 may be locked in position with respect to each other by bolts GI and 53 which pass through section 55 and are threaded into nuts 55 and 51 tion 51.

A similar vertical adjustment of tail stock II with respect to bed plate I5 is provided by insert 58, which engages section 51 along a similar inclined plane 10. Member 10 is provided with shoulders 12, which cooperate with bolts 15 to provide a micrometer adjustment of the position of members 58 and 51 in the manner described above with reference to members 55 and 51. Insert 58 may be locked in position with respect to section 51 by screws 18 which pass through a locking member 14 and are threaded into section 51.

The above described adjustable construction provides an advantageous manner in which a gear supported between stocks 5 and 1 may be accurately aligned with a gear supported between stocks 9 and I I. Tail stock 1 may also be constructed in the manner described above with reference to tail stock I I. The manner in which this may be accomplished is thought to be obvious from the above description of Figs. 4 and 5, and, to simplify the drawings, is not illustrated in detail.

Centers 13 and 15 of tail stocks II and 1 respectively are conventionally adjustable with re spect thereto by members 11 and 19, and 9| and 83, respectively. Similarly tail stocks 1 and II and head stocks- 5 and 9 are slidable along their associated bed plates and may be locked thereon in a familiar manner by bolts 85, 81 and 89.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 6 and '1, motor IOI, which may be attached to frame 29 in any conventional manner, drives shaft 25 through pulleys I03 and I05 and belt I01. As shown generally in Fig. 1 and in more detail in Fig. 6, shaft 25 is supported in three roller bearing assemblies I09, journaled in hearing standards III. Bearing standards III are supported on bed plate II3, which, in turn, is flexibly supported on rubber supports I00. Rubber supports I00 are secured to bed plate II3 by bolts I02, and to frame 29 by bolts I04, which are threaded into plates I05.

Referring again to Fig. 6, shaft 25 passes through two hollow shaft sections H1 and I I9 and may be selectively caused to actuate either one or the other thereof through oppositely arranged over-run'ning clutches, designated generally I 2I and I23, which may be of any conventional type, so constructed that during rotation of shaft 25 in one direction, shaft I I1 is positively driven through clutch I2I and no driving force is applied to shaft II9 through over-running clutch I23. During rotation of shaft 25 in the other direction, shaft H9 is positively driven through clutch I23 and no driving force is applied to shaft II1 through clutch I2I.

In accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, each of the over-running clutches, for example, over-running clutch I2I, comprises a sleeve I I0, a coil spring H2, and a relatively light coil spring II4. Springs H2 and H4, which are wound in the same direction and are connected together attheir adjacent ends, surround sleeve II 0. One'end of spring H2 is turned out, and enters an opening formed in a. lug H5, formed at the end of sleeve IIO. During rotation of shaft 25 and sleeve H0 in one direction, for example, in a clockwise direction with reference to Fig. 2, springs II 2 and H4 which rotate therewith, slide relatively freely in shaft II 1, and do not apply sufficient torque to it to cause it to rotate. If shaft 25 is rotated in the opposite direction, however, the friction between shaft I11 and springs H2 and H4 tend to unwind these springs, enlarging the coil radii and forcing these coils against shaft II1. It is noted that spring II4, which is of smaller size than spring I I2, unwinds more readily than spring H2 and so accomplishes the initial gripping action. As spring II 4 positively engages shaft II1, it imposes a drag on spring H2 and forces the latter to also positively engage shaft I I1. It will be understood that the clutching action thus produced is proportional to the load being transmitted between shafts 25 and H1 and so forms a positive drive. 4

As mentioned, over-running clutch I23 is .con-

structed in the manner just described with reference to over-running clutch I2 I. It will be understood, however, that clutch I23 is oppositely applied so that a clutching action is produced with one clutch during one direction of rotation of shaft 25 and with the other clutch during the other direction of rotation of shaft 25. Shafts H1 and H9, which may be supported on shaft 25, by roller bearing assemblies I25, and accurately positioned thereon by collars I25, drive pulleys I1 and I9, respectively, through belts 2I and 23 and pulleys I21 and I29, as best shown in Figures 1, 2 and 6.

Referring particularly to Figs. 6, 7, and 8, shafts H1 and H9 are provided with brake drums I 3| and I33, respectively. Drums I3I and I33 are each provided with ventilating ducts I32 and I34, respectively, and deflectors I30, arranged in spaced relation near the peripheries thereof, to assist in dissipating the heat generated during the period that the associated gear I or 3 is being driven by the other gear. provided with brake shoes I31, are rotatably mounted on shafts HI and I 42 between standards I39, and are biased to a brake released position by a spring I43. Corresponding brake arms I35, associated with brake drum I33, are also pivotally mounted on shafts I4I and I42 between standards I39, and are biased to the brake released position by spring I44. As best shown in Figs. 7 and 8, standards I39 may be supported Brake arms I35,-

I41 by a collar I1I.

on base plate II3 in any suitable manner, as by means of bolts I46.

A brake applying member I45, pivotally mounted on shaft I41 between standards I39, terminates in two rollers I49. When arm I is in one extreme position, rollers I49 engage arms I35 along angular surfaces I5I and force shoes I31 into engagement with brake drum I3I, associated with shaft II1. opposite extreme position, rollers I43 enter corresponding angular surfaces formed in arms I38, and apply a braking pressure to shaft I I9, through the brake shoes I53 and brake drum I34. It will be understood that when brake member I45 occupies the position shown in full lines in Figs. 1, 2, 6 and 8, neither of the brakes are applied, being released under the influence of springs I43 and I44.

Hand wheel IIiI, suitably journaled in bed plate I3, Figs. 1 and 2, drives shaft I41 through chain I 63 and sprockets I 65 and I 61, and may be rotated to cause brake member I45 to move from the neutral position illustrated in full lines in Figs. 1, 6 and 8, to either of the extreme positions illustrated in dotted lines in the same figures, to thereby correspondingly brake either shaft H1 or II 9 or release both of them.

Motor IDI may be operated in either direction, and if desired, at any one of a plurality of operating speeds, in any suitable manner. Preferably, however, and in accordance with the present invention, hand wheel I 6|, which controls the braking mechanism as above mentioned, also controls reversing mechanism for motor IIlI, so that the direction of operation of motor IIII may be simultaneously controlled with the reversal of the driving relations between the gears being finished or run-in.

Referring to Fig. 2, illustrative electrical connections for motor IIII include a face plate rheostat I82, having an arm I83 connected to the positive terminal of a source of power, and arranged to include and exclude sections of a resistor I84 in and from the circuit which leads to the armature of motor II; a suitable pole changing switch I85, illustrated as located within housing I8I; and suitable field connections controlled by a switch I86.

A shaft I19, arranged to actuate the contact of switch I85 in any suitable manner, extends outside of housing I8I, and may be rotated by either of two angularly spaced arms I15 and I11. Arms I15 and I11, in turn, are disposed for control by an arm I13, which is secured to shaft It will be understood that if hand wheel IIiI is rotated in a direction to apply a braking force to shaft H1, in the manner above described, arm I13 is rotated in a direction to cause reversing switch I85 to close appropriate contacts to cause motor IIJI to operate in a direction to drive shaft I I9. Similarly, if hand wheel I6I is rotated in a direction to apply a braking force to shaft II9, switch I85 is correspondingly actuated to cause rotation of motor IIII to be in a direction to drive shaft I I1. With this arrangement, the gear I or 3, not being driven by motor IIII, is subjected to a braking force; and each time the driving relation between the gears is reversed, the brake associated with the driving gear is released, and the brake associated with the driven gear is applied.

As shown in Fig. 8, arms I15 and I11 are somewhat widely spaced apart. The arrangement is preferably such, however, that only a slight amount of movement of either arm I15 or When member I45 is thrown to the I11 from the illustrated full line position is required to reverse the position of switch I85. Continued movement of the arm in the same direction has no eifect upon switch I85. This arrangement may be accomplished in any well known manner as, for example, by'frictionally mounting arms I15 and I11 on shaft I19. In operation, accordingly, if arm I13 is rotated in a clockwise direction from the illustrated neutral position, arm I15 is engaged. Upon continued movement of arm I13, arms I15 and I11, which move together, are moved from the illustrated full line positions to the illustrated dotted line positions. During the first part of this movement, switch I85 is actuated to reverse the connections previously completed. Thereafter,-arms I15 and I11 rotate with respect to shaft I19. If the motion of arm I13 is now reversed, no motion of arms I15 and I11 occurs until after arm I13 passes the illustrated neutral position and moves into engagement with arm I11. In response to a limited continued movement, switch I85 is again actuated to reverse the armature connections for motor IIII.

With the above described construction, it will be noted that switch I85 always occupies one or the other of its actuated positions. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, however, by suitably reducing the angular spacing between arms I15 and I11, a construction is provided in which, when arm I13 occupies the neutral position or any desired range on either side of the neutral position, switch I85 is also in a neutral position. With this latter arrangement, switch I85 may be employed to control the initial actuation of motor IIII as well as controlling the direction of rotation thereof.

Before describing the operation of the machine as a whole, it may be noted that frame 23 completely surrounds the lower part of the machine, gates I9I and I93 being provided to afford access to shaft 25 and related parts. Also, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, suiable guards I95 and I91 are preferably provided in connection with the upper moving parts.

Referring now to the operation of the machine as a whole, and assuming that gears I and 3 have been suitably positioned with respect to each other, operation of motor IIII may be initiated and the speed thereof adjusted to a suitable value by closing the armature circuit thereof through face-plate rheostat I82.

With arm I45 in the mid position, Fig. 8, brakes I35 and I36 are both released. Arms I15 and I11 are in positions, however, corresponding to a braking action of brake I35. Therefore, reversing switch I85 is in position to cause motor II to drive shaft II9. Accordingly, gear 3 is driven through belt 23 and associated parts, and drives gear I. Hand wheel I6I may be rotated, either before or after the operation of motor IIII is initiated, to apply a braking load to shaft I I1 and hence, to gear I. To do this, hand wheel IBI is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction in Fig. 1 causing rollers I49 to rotate between and separate ends I5I of brake arms I35, thereby forcing these arms into braking relation with drum I 3| As will be understood, the braking force applied in this manner is determined by the degree to which hand wheel I 6| is turned.

To reverse the driving relation between gears I and 3 without altering theiirections of rotation thereof, motor IIII may be stopped by, for example, interrupting the armature circuit thereof at face plate rheostat I82. Thereafter, hand wheel I6l may be rotated in a clockwise direction in Fig. 1, to release the brake arms I35 associated with shaft II! and, upon continued rotation, apply a corresponding braking pressure to shaft 5 H9, through brake arms I36. As previously mentioned, this rotation of hand wheel I 6| also rotates switch arm I13 in a direction to reverse the position of switch I85, causing it to close an armature circuit for motor IIII, tending to cause operation thereof in the opposite direction.

Upon reclosure of face plate rheostat I82, motor IIII restarts in a direction opposite to the original direction of rotation, and, consequently, drives shaft I I1, causing gear I to drive gear 3. It is noted that the rotation of gear I in response to motor I III is in the same direction as when it was driven by gear 3. In this case, however, gear I represents the driving member and gear 3 represents the loaded driven member. The load, as before mentioned, is proportional to the degree of rotation of hand wheel ISI.

Alternatively, the entire reversing operation may be accomplished by wheel I SI. During the first part of the operation, the braking load is reduced. Shortly after arm I13 passes the midpoint, switch, I85 is reversed, reversing the motor connections and causing motor IOI tostop and restart in the opposite direction. Suitable well known electrical apparatus, forming no part of the present invention, may be employed to protect motor IIlI in the course of this plugging operation. Upon continued rotation of wheel I6I, the load on gear 3 is adjusted to the desired value.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides an eflicient gear speeding machine of the type in which the direction of rotation of cooperating gears remains the same, but in which the driving relation between them-is re- 40 versed from time to time and in which a driven gear may be adjustably loaded.

Although a specific embodiment has been described, it is evident that various modifications may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The illustrated embodiment, accordingly, is to be considered in an illustrative, and not in a limiting, sense.

What we claim is:

1. In a machine for running together two cooperating parts such as gears, the combination of means for supporting said parts in driving relation to each other; a shaft for driving each part; a drive member common to said parts; selectively actuable means for connecting one of said shafts to said drive member for rotation thereby in one direction, and for connecting the other shaft to said drive member for rotation thereby in the other direction, so that the driving relation between said parts may be reversed without changing the directions of rotation thereof.

2. In a machine for running together two oooperating parts such as gears, the combination of means for supporting said parts in driving relation to each other; a shaft'for driving said parts; means for selectively clutching either of said parts to said shaft to cause that part to drive the other; and means for reversing said shaft to thereby maintain the directions of rotation of said parts the same even though the driving relation between them is reversed.

3. In a machine for running together two cooperating parts such as gears, the combination of means for supporting said parts in driving relation to each other; a shaft for driving each part; a drive member; selectively actuatable means for connecting one of said shafts to said drive member for rotation thereby in one direction, and for connecting the other shaft to said drive member for rotation thereby in the other direction; and means controlled by said last mentioned means for loading said parts.

4. In a machine for running together two cooperating parts such as gears, the combination of means for supporting said partsin driving relation to each other; a drive member common to said parts; a shaft for driving each part; selectively actuatable means for driving one of said shafts from said drive member in one direction and for driving the other shaft from said drive member in the other direction; means for loading said parts; and a control member arranged to control both said selective means and said loading means.

5. In a machine for running together two cooperating parts such as gears, the combination of means for supporting said parts in driving relation to each other; a drive shaft common to said parts; selectively actuable means for clutching one of said parts to said shaft for rotation by said shaft in one direction and for clutching v the other of said parts to said shaft for rotation by said shaft in the other direction; means for loading said parts; and a control member arranged to control both said clutching means and said loading means.

6. In a machine for running together two cooperating parts such as gears, the combination of means for supporting said parts in driving relation to each other; a drive shaft common to both parts andreversible means to drive it in either direction; means for clutching one part to said shaft during rotation thereof in one direction; means for clutching the other part to said shaft during rotation thereof in the other direction; means for selectively loading said parts; and a control member arranged to control both said reversible means and said loading means.

7. In a machine for running together two cooperating parts such as gears, the combination of means for supporting said parts in driving relation to each other; a drive shaft common to both said parts and reversible means to drive it in either direction; a shaft section individual to one part. and means to clutch it to said drive shaft during rotation thereof in one direction; and a shaft section individual to the other part and means to clutch it to said drive shaft during rotation thereof in the other direction; a braking member associated with each shaft section; and a control member arranged to control both said reversible means and said braking members.

JOSEPH C. DRADER. WILLIAM H. BOOK. 

